All Forum Posts by: Amy Breen

@William F. Given your extensive reviews and strong opinions about so many land investing courses, would you be willing to verify your identity as an independent investor? This could add some credibility to your reviews and recommendations. Perhaps you could share your LinkedIn profile showing your business background, or even photos of yourself at land investing meetups or events you've attended as an independent investor? This would help everyone feel confident that your reviews come from genuine firsthand experience rather than potentially biased marketing.

I feel compelled to point out something important about this post and its author's posting history. While this review appears comprehensive and objective at first glance, I see a concerning pattern.

Looking through William Ferr's posting history on BiggerPockets, there's an unmistakable pattern of consistently promoting Jonathan Halves and his training course The Land Method and his Land Riches Blueprint, while criticizing other educators. You can see plenty of examples in these threads, where every contribution revolves around this same promotional angle:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/927/topics/1195612-the-...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/1136123-what...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/1103837-which...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/62/topics/1156841-scam-...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/44/topics/1159791-what-...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/1121289-has-a...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/44/topics/1159791-what-...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/32290-jack-bo...

https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/938096-land-f...

Given this pattern and the sophisticated marketing approach, I wouldn’t be surprised if "William Ferr" might actually be Jonathan Halves himself, or someone closely tied to his business. While I can't prove this definitively, the posting behavior strongly suggests this isn't coming from a typical satisfied customer.

What's interesting is how this latest post is carefully crafted to rank well in Google searches for people who are searching for education on land investing. As someone who used to work in SEO, I can see that the structure, length, and comparison format are classic SEO techniques. While there's nothing inherently wrong with SEO, the intent here raises concerns.

There's also an ironic element to these reviews. He is critiquing products and courses that he hasn’t personally used. Any legitimate review should come from firsthand experience with the product or service. Offering definitive opinions about courses you haven't taken is like reviewing restaurants you've never eaten at.

I think it's important to acknowledge that every land educator has contributed value to the field. Perhaps some more than others, but each one brings a unique perspective. What resonates with one person may be different than another. Rather than tearing down everyone, I’d rather focus on how different teaching styles and strategies might suit different investors' needs.

When someone consistently promotes one product while criticizing others they haven't tried, it undermines the trust and authenticity that makes this forum valuable.

I'm not trying to create conflict here, but as someone who has learned a lot from different educators in the land investing space, it is concerning when I see someone posting carefully disguised spam and trying to make it look like an unbiased review.

Thanks @David Mackin @James Carlson @Preston Dean and @Nicholas L. for your input! Great recommendations and ideas.

Joke writing is a hugely underappreciated art. A lot of what makes a joke funny is how you deliver it, your tone of voice, etc. This is part of what makes standup comedy a slightly different skill set than just writing them out because, in the written word, you don't have the benefit of hearing the tone of voice, facial expressions, or anything else about the delivery.

So, you can make a lot of things funny, especially in a sarcastic way, if you focus not just on the words but on how you deliver them.

You could try BIFI or Madison. I've looked into both before and from what I recall, they both work in Michigan. You'd have to call them to be sure though.

Hey BiggerPockets Community!

I'm a new member here and an aspiring real estate investor eager to kickstart my journey in the world of real estate. I've been soaking up all the knowledge I can from books, podcasts, and the incredible resources here on BiggerPockets. However, there's nothing like getting firsthand advice from experienced investors, so I'm reaching out to you all!

As I'm in the early stages of my investment journey, I am overwhelmed with where to begin. I understand that there are multiple paths I could take, such as rentals, flips, or wholesaling, and I'm trying to figure out which path aligns best with my goals and current situation.

Here's my question for all seasoned investors: What would be your first step if you were starting your investment journey today with the knowledge you now possess? And are there any common pitfalls or crucial advice you wish someone had shared with you at the beginning of your investment career?

I'm all about learning from others' experiences and would greatly appreciate any insights, stories, or tips you're willing to share. Your advice will be invaluable in helping me navigate these initial steps and lay a solid foundation for my future in real estate investing.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my post and for any guidance you can provide!